Monday, April 16, 2012

Almost, but not quite

Almost a true BikeRunSwig weekend for me.

Last week was very busy, stressful, tiring. Teenagers definitely contribute to that way of life. Also, looked into the fork on Marie for a possible recall. Did find out that it’s the SL model only, not the CL (mine) or TT. Anyways, by Fri afternoon, wasn’t exactly in the most social mood. I was very tired.

But weather was way too nice. So I hit tennis balls with Ocean Jr. and my weariness began to dissipate.

Then Gerald rolled into town with a few bottles of wine. Cooked my first Chinese chicken stir-fry with noodles, and attempted a thai-beef. Investigated a couple bottles of wine from Whidbey Island. Fun!

Made 2nd attempt at chicken stir-fry. This time with more vegetables. Watched biking documentary called Ride the Divide. Will be road crew/support for Dyno if he ever decides to attempt this race. I think he’d be awesome at it.

Missed a couple calls from the Eugene blokes. Papa V & Ennui. I’ve requested Gerald take a photo of Papa V at mile 22 for me for the upcoming Eugene Marathon. Also, would love to get a pic 2 days after the race from View as well. Good luck Papa V, you’re a way fitter/better man than me. My legs cramp up just saying the word marathon!

Sunday woke up and fulfilled my April requirement for the Grapefruit Challenge with Gerald. Short ride to Langley. Finally memorized the W cross-streets from Clinton to Langley. Wrightsman, Winterwood, Wycliff, Whitehorse, Witter, Welcome, Wilkenson Farm, Woodside. All on Wilkenson Road.

I encountered a few physical drawbacks. Cramps in my quads up the Muk ferry hill. (Mrs. Ocean to the rescue)! Also, felt like I was half-asleep pretty much the whole ride!? I did discover something cool on the last big hill on the way back to Clinton. Really hard to explain, but I realized finding the right tempo/pace and some kind of “alignment” within myself, riding can be very enjoyable even through the hardest/most uncomfortable parts? Felt like I found some internal sweet spot in tempo, and that was by far the best part of the ride for me.

Got back home. Mrs. Ocean & Ocean Jr headed out for Jr’s first time on a golf course. Gerald ate some leftovers and took off, while I worked on the case of beer Gerald brought and passed out with NeeshaCat.

Woke up this morning and headed out to Wallace Falls State Park with Mrs. Ocean. Got out in the parking lot, and nearly headed back to town. It was pouring. Until, I realized Mrs. Ocean had her golf clubs in the trunk. Inside, I discovered the world’s largest umbrella! It kept us dry for about half a mile until we reached the cover of the forest. Golf umbrellas are actually amazing. It seriously could have covered another two people. Truly enjoyed the finish line. Silver Lake Burger King.

So Gerald could really call this a true bikerunswig weekend. She ran a trail marathon, biked Whidbey Island, and drank plenty of wine/beer. For me, it was more accurately a bikehiketenniscookswig weekend. No running. I do miss running, but my weight is so heavy right now, I’ve got to cut back on my cook/swig, but after this weekend I’m not sure that I will. I like them too much and this weekend I discovered that as long as I show up and participate in BRS activities, then that’s the most important part for me.

Like while blogging this entry I managed to knock out 260 leg lifts, (did manage horrible cramps in the my calves. Ouch).

Anyways, I’m shooting to pace Gerald on her bell lap on her next 100 miler. That’s 2012 Leschi Food Club weekend. I hope to get up to 8 miles by then.

I figure, keep the status quo, but focus on increasing my BRS activities. That’s what has been inconsistent for me. I just realized that’s the beauty of April’s Ab Awareness. You can’t manage 3,000 ab reps, without spreading it throughout the month. It’s the day in, day out work. So I plan to focus on that. I suspect everything else will naturally take care of itself.

Off to finish cooking my Cuban sandwiches and quinoa now. Also gotta kill the last two Sols.